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National pride is to countries what self-respect is to individuals: a necessary condition for self-improvement.

— Richard Rorty

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Patriotism

More quotes by Richard Rorty

To abjure the notion of the "truly human" is to abjure the attempt to divinize the self as a replacement for a divinized world.

Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity (1989)

The usual picture of Socrates is of an ugly little plebeian who inspired a handsome young nobleman to write long dialogues on large topics.

Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity (1989)

Philosophy makes progress not by becoming more rigorous but by becoming more imaginative.

There is nothing deep down inside us except what we have put there ourselves.

Consequences of Pragmatism (1982)

Truthfulness under oath is, by now, a matter of our civic religion, our relation to our fellow citizens rather than our relation to a nonhuman power.

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I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

Nathan Hale

It is not easy to see how the more extreme forms of nationalism can long survive when men have seen the Earth in its true perspective as a single small globe against the stars.

Arthur C. Clarke The Exploration of Space (1951)

Our country – In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right, and always successful, right or wrong.

Stephen Decatur

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

Barbara Ehrenreich

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Richard Rorty (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.